of Arizona. In Central and South America the Dalcerida are

more numerously found. Of Pinconia coa we give a representation on Plate VIII, Fig. 6.

FAMILY EPIPYROPIDÆ

"So, naturalists observe, a flea

Has smaller fleas that on him prey;

And these have smaller still to bite 'em,

And so proceed ad infinitum.”

SWIFT. A Rhapsody.

The Epipyropida are a very remarkable little family of parasitic moths, of which, as yet, comparatively little is known. Professor J. O. Westwood of Oxford, in the year 1876, published an account of a lepidopterous insect, the larva of which lived upon Fulgora candelaria, the great tree-hopper, which is abundant at Hong-Kong and elsewhere in southeastern Asia. The caterpillar, according to Westwood, feeds upon the white, cottony secretion, which is found at the base of the wings of Fulgora. In 1902 Dr. Dyar described another species, the moth of which was bred from a larva which was found attached to the body of a tree-hopper belonging to the genus Issus. The specimen came from New Mexico, and was taken at Las Vegas Hot Springs. The moth, cocoon, and an alcoholic specimen of the larva are preserved in the United States National Museum. Mr. Champion, the veteran explorer of Central America, who has done so much to instruct us as to the biology of those lands, has recorded in a note in the Proceedings of the Entomological Society of London for 1883, p. xx, that a similar phenomenon was observed by him while collecting in Central America. There is here a field of interesting study for some patient observer whose home is in New Mexico. Dr. Dyar named the New Mexican insect Epipyrops barberiana.

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.-The Autocrat of the Breakfast-table.

The Zyganida are not very well represented in the fauna of North America. They are more numerous in the Old World than in the New, and the genera found in the New World are mainly aberrant. The family has been characterized as follows by Hampson, "Moths of India," Vol. I, p. 228: "Closely allied to the Syntomida, but distinguished by vein 1a of the fore wing being present, except in Anomœotes1; vein 8 of the hind wing present and connected with 7 by a bar; veinlets in the cell of both, with wings generally present. Frenulum present except in Himantopterus.1

Larva short and cylindrical.

Pupa in a silken cocoon."

Genus ACOLOITHUS Clemens

(1) Acoloithus falsarius Clemens, Plate XVI, Fig. 14, 3. Syn. sanborni Packard.

The larva feeds upon the grape and the Virginia creeper (Ampelopsis). The insect is not scarce in the Atlantic States.

Genus PYROMORPHA Herrich-Schæffer

(1) Pyromorpha dimidiata Herrich-Schæffer, Plate XLVII, Fig. 33, 8.

Syn. perlucidula Clemens.

The insect is not very common.

It is a native of the eastern

portions of the territory with which this book deals.

Genus TRIPROCRIS Grote

There are eight species assigned to this genus in recent lists. They are all found in the southwestern portions of our territory. (1) Triprocris rata Henry Edwards, Plate XIII, Fig. 4, 8. A native of Arizona.

1 Genera found in Asia and Africa.

(2) Triprocris latercula Henry Edwards, Plate XIII, Fig. 5, 8.

Has the same habitat as the preceding species.

(3) Triprocris constans Henry Edwards, Plate XIII, Fig. 16, 3.

The moth occurs in New Mexico.

(4) Triprocris smithsonianus Clemens, Plate XLVII, Fig. 32, 8.

The insect is not uncommon in the southern portions of Colorado, and is found in New Mexico and northern Texas.

Genus HARRISINA Packard

Three species belonging to the genus occur within the United States. Two of these are indigenous to Texas and Arizona. The other has a wide range through the Appalachian subregion. We have selected it for illustration.

(1) Harrisina americana Guérin-Méneville, Plate XLVII, Fig. 34, 8.

Syn. texana Stretch.

The habits of this insect have been so well described by Professor C. V. Riley that we cannot do better than quote some

passages from his account, which is to be found in the "Second Annual Report of the State Entomologist of Missouri," at page 85. He says: "During the months of July and August, the leaves of the grape-vine may often be found denuded of their softer parts, with nothing but the veins, and sometimes only a few of the larger ribs left skeleton-like, to Very frequently only por

tell the mischief that has been done. tions of the leaf will be thus denuded, and in that event, if we examine such a leaf closely, we shall find the authors of the mischief drawn up in line upon the yet leafy tissue with their heads all toward the margin, cutting away with their little jaws and retreating as they feed.

These soldier-like files are formed by worms in black and yellow uniforms which produce a moth popularly known as the American Procris.

The eggs from which

they hatch are laid in

small clusters on the

under side of the leaves, and while the worms are small, they leave untouched the most delicate veins of the leaf, which then presents the appearance of fine network, as shown in the right of the figure (211); but when they become older and stronger they devour all but the larger ribs, as shown at the left of the figure. . When full grown these worms disperse over the vines or forsake them entirely, and each spins for itself a small, tough, whitish, flattened cocoon, within which, in about three days, it changes to a chrysalis, three tenths of an inch long, broad, flattened, and of a light shining yellowish-brown color. In about ten days afterwards the moths begin to issue."

FIG. 211.-Harrisina americana. Larvæ. (After Riley.)

The insect is double-brooded. It is common in the Appalachian subregion, ranging from the Atlantic to the borders of the Great Plains in the West.

FAMILY CHALCOSIIDÆ

'Daughters of the air."-DE LA FONTAINE.

This family is represented in our fauna by but a single insect, belonging to the genus Gingla, established by Walker. It is an obscure little moth known as Gingla laterculæ Dyar. Its habitat is Arizona.

FAMILY THYRIDIDÆ

And yet I will exercise your promised patience by saying a little of the Caterpillar, or the Palmer-fly or worm, that by them you may guess what a work it were in a discourse but to run over those very many flies, worms, and little living creatures with which the sun and summer adorn and beautify the river-banks and meadows, both for the recreation and contemplation of us Anglers: pleasures which, I think, myself enjoy more than any other man that is not of my profession." IZAAK WALTON.-The Compleat Angler, Chap. V, Pt. 1

The Thyridida are a small family of moths revealing decided affinity to the Pyralida. They have been characterized as follows by Hampson, "Moths of India," Vol. I, p. 352: "Moths generally with hyaline patches and striæ on the wings. Palpi obliquely upturned and slender. Antennæ almost simple. Fore wing with vein ia forming a fork with 1b at base; Ic absent; 5 from near lower angle of cell. Hind wing with two internal veins; vein 8 nearly touching vein 7 just before or after the end of the cell. Mid tibia with one pair of spurs; hind tibia with two pairs.

Larva pyraliform, with five pairs of legs."

Six genera are attributed to this family in the last list of the species found within the United States which has been published. Of four of these we give illustrations.

Genus THYRIS Laspeyres

(1) Thyris maculata Harris, Plate XLVII, Fig. 30, 8. (The Spotted Thyris.)

Syn. perspicua Walker.

The moth is a native of the Eastern States. It is not common. (2) Thyris lugubris Boisduval, Plate XLVII, Fig. 31, 8. (The Mournful Thyris.)

Syn. sepulchralis Boisduval; nevada Oberthür.

The range of the species is coincident with that of its only other congener in the United States.

Genus DYSODIA Clemens

(1) Dysodia oculatana Clemens, Plate III, Fig. 10, 8. (The Eyed Dysodia.)